Cholic acid
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Martin Nino [2]
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Overview
Cholic acid is a bile acid that is FDA approved for the treatment of patients with bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme defects (SEDs) and as an adjunctive treatment of peroxisomal disorders (PDs) including Zellweger spectrum disorders in patients who exhibit manifestations of liver disease, steatorrhea or complications from decreased fat soluble vitamin absorption. Common adverse reactions include diarrhea, reflux esophagitis, malaise, jaundice, skin lesion, nausea, abdominal pain, intestinal polyp , urinary tract infection, and peripheral neuropathy (≥1%).
Adult Indications and Dosage
FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)
Indications
Cholic acid is indicated for the treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme defects (SEDs).
- Peroxisomal Disorders Including Zellweger Spectrum Disorders
Cholic acid is indicated for adjunctive treatment of peroxisomal disorders (PDs) including Zellweger spectrum disorders in patients who exhibit manifestations of liver disease, steatorrhea or complications from decreased fat soluble vitamin absorption.
Limitation of Use: The safety and effectiveness of cholic acid on extrahepatic manifestations of bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs or PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders have not been established.
Dosage
- Dosage Regimen for Bile Acid Synthesis Disorders due to Single Enzyme Defects and Peroxisomal Disorders including Zellweger Spectrum Disorders
The recommended dosage of cholic acid is 10 to 15 mg/kg administered orally once daily, or in two divided doses, in pediatric patients and in adults.
Tables 1 and 2 show the number of capsules that should be administered daily to approximate a 10 mg/kg/day and 15 mg/kg/day dosage, respectively, using the available 50 mg and 250 mg capsules alone or in combination.
- Table 1: Number of cholic acid capsules Needed to Achieve a Recommended Dosage of 10 mg/kg/day
- Table 2: Number of cholic acid capsules Needed to Achieve a Recommended Dosage of 15 mg/kg/day
Patients with newly diagnosed, or a family history of, familial hypertriglyceridemia may have poor absorption of cholic acid from the intestine and require a 10% increase in the recommended dosage to account for losses due to malabsorption. The recommended dosage of cholic acid in patients with concomitant familial hypertriglyceridemia is 11 to 17 mg/kg orally once daily, or in two divided doses. Adequacy of the dosage regimen can be determined by monitoring of patients' clinical response including steatorrhea, and laboratory values including transaminases, bilirubin and PT/INR.
Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)
Pediatric Indications and Dosage
FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)
The safety and effectiveness of cholic acid has been established in pediatric patients 3 weeks of age and older for the treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs, and for adjunctive treatment of patients with PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders who exhibit manifestations of liver disease, steatorrhea or complications from decreased fat soluble vitamin absorption.
- Dosage Regimen for Bile Acid Synthesis Disorders due to Single Enzyme Defects and Peroxisomal Disorders including Zellweger Spectrum Disorders
The recommended dosage of cholic acid is 10 to 15 mg/kg administered orally once daily, or in two divided doses, in pediatric patients and in adults.
Tables 1 and 2 show the number of capsules that should be administered daily to approximate a 10 mg/kg/day and 15 mg/kg/day dosage, respectively, using the available 50 mg and 250 mg capsules alone or in combination.
Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)
Contraindications
None
Warnings
- Exacerbation of Liver Impairment
Monitor liver function and discontinue cholic acid in patients who develop worsening of liver function while on treatment. Concurrent elevations of serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) may indicate cholic acid overdose. Discontinue treatment with cholic acid at any time if there are clinical or laboratory indicators of worsening liver function or cholestasis.
Evidence of liver impairment was present before treatment with cholic acid in approximately 86% (44/51) of patients with bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs and in approximately 50% (14/28) of patients with PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders. Five of the patients (3 SED and 2 PD) with liver impairment at baseline experienced worsening serum transaminases, elevated bilirubin values, or worsening cholestasis on liver biopsy following treatment. An additional 5 patients (2 SED and 3 PD) who did not have baseline cholestasis experienced an exacerbation of their liver disease while on treatment. Exacerbation of liver impairment by cholic acid in these patients cannot be ruled out.
Six patients with single enzyme defects underwent liver transplant, including four patients diagnosed with AKR1D1 deficiency, one with 3β-HSD deficiency, and one with CYP7A1 deficiency.
Adverse Reactions
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
Clinical safety experience with cholic acid consists of:
- Trial 1: a non-randomized, open-label, single-arm trial of 50 patients with bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs and 29 patients with PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders. Safety data are available over the 18 years of the trial.
- Trial 2: an extension trial of 12 new patients (10 SED and 2 PD) along with 31 (21 SED and 10 PD) patients who rolled-over from Trial 1. Safety data are available for 3 years and 11 months of treatment.
Adverse events were not collected systematically in either of these trials. Most patients received an oral dose of 10 to 15 mg/kg/day of cholic acid.
Deaths
In Trial 1, among the 50 patients with SEDs, 5 patients aged 1 year or less died, which included three patients originally diagnosed with AKR1D1 deficiency, one with 3β-HSD deficiency and one with CYP7A1 deficiency. The cause of death was attributed to progression of underlying liver disease in every patient.
Of the 29 patients in Trial 1 with PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders, 12 patients between the ages of 7 months and 2.5 years died. In the majority of these patients (8/12), the cause of death was attributed to progression of underlying liver disease or to a worsening of their primary illness.
Two additional patients in Trial 1 (1 SED and 1 PD) died who had been off study medication for more than one year with the cause of death most likely being a progression of their underlying liver disease. Of the patients who died with disease progression, laboratory testing showed abnormal serum transaminases, bilirubin, or cholestasis on liver biopsy suggesting worsening of their underlying cholestasis.
In Trial 2, among the 31 patients with SED, two patients (1 new patient and 1 who rolled over from Trial 1) died. The cause of death in both cases was unrelated to their primary treatment or progression of their underlying liver disease.
Of the 12 patients with PD in Trial 2, four patients died between the ages of 4 and 8 years (1 new patient and 3 who rolled over from Trial 1). The cause of death in three of these patients was attributed to progression of underlying liver disease or to a worsening of their primary illness.
Worsening Liver Impairment
Seven patients in Trial 1(4 SED and 3 PD) and 3 patients in Trial 2 (1 SED and 2 PD) experienced worsening serum transaminases, elevated bilirubin values, or worsening cholestasis on liver biopsy during treatment.
Common Adverse Reactions
There were 12 adverse reactions reported across 9 patients in the trials, with diarrhea being the most common reaction in approximately 2% of the patient population. All other adverse reactions represented 1% of the patient population. The breakdown by trial follows:
- Table 3: Most Common Adverse Reactions in Trials 1 and 2
Only one of the reactions (peripheral neuropathy) resulted in discontinuation of medication for a patient in Trial 2. An additional five SED patients (3 from Trial 1 and 2 from Trial 2) and 1 PD patient (Trial 1) discontinued medication and withdrew from the study due to a worsening of their primary disease.
The development of symptomatic cholelithiasis requiring cholecystectomy has been reported in a single patient with 3β-HSD deficiency.
Postmarketing Experience
There is limited information regarding Cholic acid Postmarketing Experience in the drug label.
Drug Interactions
- Effects of other drugs on cholic acid
Drug interactions with cholic acid mainly relate to agents capable of interrupting the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids.
- Inhibitors of Bile Acid Transporters
Avoid concomitant use of inhibitors of the bile salt efflux pump (BSEP) such as cyclosporine. Concomitant medications that inhibit canalicular membrane bile acid transporters such as the BSEP may exacerbate accumulation of conjugated bile salts in the liver and result in clinical symptoms. If concomitant use is deemed necessary, monitoring of serum transaminases and bilirubin is recommended.
Bile acid binding resins such as cholestyramine, colestipol, or colesevelam adsorb and reduce bile acid absorption and may reduce the efficacy of cholic acid. Take cholic acid at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours (or at as great an interval as possible) after a bile acid binding resin.
- Aluminum-Based Antacids
Aluminum-based antacids have been shown to adsorb bile acids in vitro and can reduce the bioavailability of cholic acid. Take cholic acid at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours (or at as great an interval as possible) after an aluminum-based antacid.
Use in Specific Populations
Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Exposure Registry
There is a pregnancy surveillance program that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to cholic acid during pregnancy [COCOA Registry (ChOlbam: Child and mOther's heAlth)]. Women who become pregnant during cholic acid treatment are encouraged to enroll. Patients or their health care provider should call 1-844-20C-OCOA or 1-844-202-6262 to enroll.
- Risk Summary
No studies in pregnant women or animal reproduction studies have been conducted with cholic acid.
Limited published case reports discuss pregnancies in women taking cholic acid for 3β-HSD deficiency resulting in healthy infants. These reports may not adequately inform the presence or absence of drug-associated risk with the use of cholic acid during pregnancy. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. However, the background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2-4% and of miscarriage is 15-20% of clinically recognized pregnancies.
Pregnancy Category (AUS):
There is no Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) guidance on usage of Cholic acid in women who are pregnant.
Labor and Delivery
There is no FDA guidance on use of Cholic acid during labor and delivery.
Nursing Mothers
Endogenous cholic acid is present in human milk. Clinical lactation studies have not been conducted to assess the presence of cholic acid in human milk, the effects of cholic acid on the breastfed infant, or the effects of cholic acid on milk production. There are no animal lactation data and no data from case reports available in the published literature. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for cholic acid and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from cholic acid or from the underlying maternal condition.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of cholic acid has been established in pediatric patients 3 weeks of age and older for the treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs, and for adjunctive treatment of patients with PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders who exhibit manifestations of liver disease, steatorrhea or complications from decreased fat soluble vitamin absorption.
Geriatic Use
Clinical studies of cholic acid did not include any patients aged 65 years and over. It is not known if elderly patients respond differently from younger patients.
Gender
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Cholic acid with respect to specific gender populations.
Race
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Cholic acid with respect to specific racial populations.
Renal Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Cholic acid in patients with renal impairment.
Hepatic Impairment
Discontinue treatment with cholic acid if liver function does not improve within 3 months of the start of treatment.
Discontinue treatment with cholic acid at any time if there are clinical or laboratory indicators of worsening liver function or cholestasis. Continue to monitor laboratory parameters of liver function and consider restarting at a lower dose when the parameters return to baseline.
Females of Reproductive Potential and Males
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Cholic acid in women of reproductive potentials and males.
Immunocompromised Patients
There is no FDA guidance one the use of Cholic acid in patients who are immunocompromised.
Administration and Monitoring
Administration
- Take cholic acid with food.
- Take cholic acid at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours (or at as great an interval as possible) after a bile acid binding resin or aluminum-based antacid.
- Do not crush or chew the capsules.
- For patients unable to swallow the capsules, the capsules can be opened and the contents mixed with either infant formula or expressed breast milk (for younger children), or soft food such as mashed potatoes or apple puree (for older children and adults) in order to mask any unpleasant taste:
- Hold the capsule over the prepared liquid/food, gently twist open, and allow the contents to fall into the liquid/food.
- Mix the entire capsule contents with one or two tablespoons (15 mL to 30 mL) of infant formula, expressed breast milk, or soft food such as mashed potatoes or apple puree.
- Stir for 30 seconds.
- The capsule contents will remain as fine granules in the milk or food, and will not dissolve.
- Administer the mixture immediately
Monitoring
Treatment with cholic acid should be initiated and monitored by an experienced hepatologist or pediatric gastroenterologist.
Monitor serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin and INR every month for the first 3 months, every 3 months for the next 9 months, every 6 months during the subsequent three years and annually thereafter. Monitor more frequently during periods of rapid growth, concomitant disease, and pregnancy. Administer the lowest dose of cholic acid that effectively maintains liver function.
Discontinue treatment with cholic acid if liver function does not improve within 3 months of the start of treatment or complete biliary obstruction develops.
Discontinue treatment with cholic acid at any time if there are persistent clinical or laboratory indicators of worsening liver function or cholestasis. Concurrent elevations of serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) may indicate cholic acid overdose. Continue to monitor laboratory parameters of liver function and consider restarting at a lower dose when the parameters return to baseline.
Assessment of serum or urinary bile acid levels using mass spectrometry is used in the diagnosis of bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs and PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders. The utility of bile acid measurements in monitoring the clinical course of patients and in decisions regarding dose adjustment has not been demonstrated.
IV Compatibility
There is limited information regarding the compatibility of Cholic acid and IV administrations.
Overdosage
Concurrent elevations of serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) may indicate cholic acid overdose. Continue to monitor laboratory parameters of liver function and consider restarting at a lower dose when the parameters return to baseline.
In the event of overdose the patient should be monitored and treated symptomatically.
Pharmacology
There is limited information regarding Cholic acid Pharmacology in the drug label.
Mechanism of Action
Cholic acid is a primary bile acid synthesized from cholesterol in the liver. In bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs in the biosynthetic pathway, and in PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders, deficiency of primary bile acids leads to unregulated accumulation of intermediate bile acids and cholestasis. Bile acids facilitate fat digestion and absorption by forming mixed micelles, and facilitate absorption of fat-soluble vitamins in the intestine.
Endogenous bile acids including cholic acid enhance bile flow and provide the physiologic feedback inhibition of bile acid synthesis. The mechanism of action of cholic acid has not been fully established; however, it is known that cholic acid and its conjugates are endogenous ligands of the nuclear receptor, farnesoid X receptor (FXR). FXR regulates enzymes and transporters that are involved in bile acid synthesis and in the enterohepatic circulation to maintain bile acid homeostasis under normal physiologic conditions.
Structure
There is limited information regarding Cholic acid Structure in the drug label.
Pharmacodynamics
There is limited information regarding Cholic acid Pharmacodynamics in the drug label.
Pharmacokinetics
Orally administered cholic acid is subject to the same metabolic pathway as endogenous cholic acid.
Cholic acid is absorbed by passive diffusion along the length of the gastrointestinal tract. Once absorbed, cholic acid enters into the body's bile acid pool and undergoes enterohepatic circulation mainly in conjugated forms.
In the liver, cholic acid is conjugated with glycine or taurine by bile acid-CoA synthetase and bile acid-CoA: amino acid N-acetyltransferase. Conjugated cholic acid is actively secreted into bile mainly by the Bile Salt Efflux Pump (BSEP), and then released into the small intestine, along with other components of bile.
Conjugated cholic acid is mostly re-absorbed in the ileum mainly by the apical-sodium-dependent-bile acid transporter, passed back to the liver by transporters including sodium-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide and organic anion transport protein and enters another cycle of enterohepatic circulation. Any conjugated cholic acid not absorbed in the ileum passes into the colon where deconjugation and 7-dehydroxylation are mediated by bacteria to form cholic acid and deoxycholic acid which may be re-absorbed in the colon or excreted in the feces. The loss of cholic acid is compensated by de-novo synthesis of cholic acids from cholesterol to maintain the bile acid pool in healthy subjects.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Carcinogenicity, genetic toxicology, and nonclinical fertility studies have not been performed with cholic acid.
Animal Toxicology and/or Pharmacology
In the PEX2-/- mouse model of peroxisomal disorders, feeding with a combination of cholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid normalized C24 bile acid concentrations in bile to that of untreated control animals. Although growth was only mildly improved, there was near complete normalization of stool fat content, resolution of steatorrhea, and improved survival. Bile acid feeding reduced the number of cholestatic deposits in bile ducts and alleviated cholangitis, but exacerbated the degree of hepatic steatosis and mitochondrial and cellular damage in the peroxisome-deficient livers of these animals.
Clinical Studies
There is limited information regarding Cholic acid Clinical Studies in the drug label.
How Supplied
There is limited information regarding Cholic acid How Supplied in the drug label.
Storage
There is limited information regarding Cholic acid Storage in the drug label.
Images
Drug Images
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Package and Label Display Panel
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Patient Counseling Information
There is limited information regarding Cholic acid Patient Counseling Information in the drug label.
Precautions with Alcohol
Alcohol-Cholic acid interaction has not been established. Talk to your doctor regarding the effects of taking alcohol with this medication.
Brand Names
There is limited information regarding Cholic acid Brand Names in the drug label.
Look-Alike Drug Names
There is limited information regarding Cholic acid Look-Alike Drug Names in the drug label.
Drug Shortage Status
Price
References
The contents of this FDA label are provided by the National Library of Medicine.
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